Honoring heroes among us

By JODY WILSON | Special to the Herald

Published 11:44 am, Saturday, October 6, 2012

Photo: Jill Freeman/Courtesy Photo

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Plainview World War II veterans in Washington this past week as part of the South Plains Honor Flight. The Plainview veterans, wearing blue shirts, (from left) are Elton Wilson, J.W. Hamby, Doug Douglass, Wesley Schumacher, David True (who went in memory of his father S.M. True who planned to go on the trip but died in a farm accident in May), James Crossland, Sydney Rodgers (in wheelchair), his son Steve Rodgers (in white shirt) and other son, veteran Richard Rodgers (blue shirt) and Lloyd Belk. Others in photo were not identified. less

Plainview World War II veterans in Washington this past week as part of the South Plains Honor Flight. The Plainview veterans, wearing blue shirts, (from left) are Elton Wilson, J.W. Hamby, Doug Douglass, ... more

Photo: Jill Freeman/Courtesy Photo

Honoring heroes among us

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In small clusters we gathered, clutching 4x6 U.S. flags, balloons, homemade signs announcing “Welcome Home, Grandpa!” and “You Are Our Heroes!” The inaugural Veterans Honor Flight of Lubbock was delayed due to mechanical problems. Munching cookies and drinking coffee, we settled in to wait.

Young mothers shifted the weight of small children from one hip to the other. Men in cowboy boots and jeans waited eagerly for those who had fought and won a war and then returned to their lives as if they had done nothing at all.

A hush fell over the predicted 1,000 people who waited shoulder-to-shoulder to hug their heroes and take them home. Haunting notes of a bagpipe and the staccato beats of a drum drifted through the airport. Then we saw the proud musicians in kilts marching with great pomp and dignity.

And behind them walked our weary servicemen, guardian family members, team members who had paid their fare for an opportunity to serve during this three-day, two-night tour of Washington, D.C. With smiles as big as Texas, their eyes twinkled as they scanned the crowd gathered in their honor.

Then we spotted our Papa, Elton Wilson, an expression of delight on his face. People reached out from the crowd to shake hands and say, “Thank you!” I raised my flag to him, hugged him and said, “Welcome home, Papa. We missed you so much. You have more family here,” and swept my hand to the right. His expression lit up as he embraced a daughter, a son, two grandsons, a granddaughter-in-law and a great-grandson who will turn 2 this month. It was history in the making, and Ted was recording the memory.

Near the luggage carrousel a reporter from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal stepped up to Papa with a pad and pencil in hand for an interview. Papa was the only “hump pilot” in the group. Ted’s camera caught that moment. We turned to see the mayor of Lubbock, Glen Robertson, who accompanied them on the flight, a bag over his shoulder and a pull-along.

He stopped to talk and pose for a picture with Papa.

He said, “I was whining about my feet being tired and I suddenly realized that the guys of this ‘greatest generation’ have 40 years on me. They never quit and never grumble. So I shut my mouth.” We had a good laugh . . . that is who they are.

A giant wave of emotion swept the crowd. Tears glistened and grateful hearts were riveted on this remarkable group. Our hearts lurched as we spotted David and Linda True. David took the trip in honor of his dad, S.M. True, who was scheduled to be on this flight. But after having coffee with Papa and some of their buds, S.M. went out to work on the farm and was killed in a farm accident.

I spotted a widow in the crowd whose name I can’t recall. Her husband, booked for this flight, had died in a flagpole accident. But there she was cheering them on.

The veterans wore red shirts for the flight home, red to remember those who never rejoined their loving families.

Often we are overwhelmed with negative news, crimes, photos of those who cheat and manipulate the system. But now, more than ever, I am convinced that there are heroes all around us, men to honor and love. We live in the house with one. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Jody Wilson is the daughter-in-law of Elton Wilson, a World War II veteran from Plainview